Chapel Speakers Share Their Story of Hope

Riverside, Calif.(Nov. 13, 2014) -- Jay and Katherine Wolf are on a mission to share their story of hope. They were
on California Baptist University's campus this week to share that story in chapel.

Jay and Katherine met at a college in Alabama, married after they graduated in 2004
and then moved to Southern California. In 2007, they had their son, James. Six months
later, without any warning, Katherine had a massive stroke. She was 26.

"There are these moments in our lives where everything changes," Jay said. "As much
as we want to, we can't ever go back. That day for us was April 21, 2008. That's the
kind of world we live in. Our ability to control it is just really an illusion. We
don't know where we're going to end up this afternoon."

Katherine was in a coma for two months and was in hospitals and rehabilitation for
about two years. She had to re-learn how to swallow, to speak and to walk. She is
deaf in one ear, has double vision and facial paralysis. Since her stroke, she has
had 11 surgeries, including one for a brain aneurysm.

A low moment for Katherine came about seven months after her stroke.

"I remember thinking, God made a mistake here. This isn't what was intended. Surely
God messed up, because God would never have allowed this in my life. This could not
be God's plan," she said. Then the Bible verses she had learned since she was a child
came to her. "In that deep dark moment of wondering, the deep truth of the Lord was
impressed on me. I almost heard the ridiculousness of that. God doesn't make mistakes."

Jay and Katherine have started a full-time ministry called Hope Heals. They want to
share their story of hope and joy with people and point them to the kingdom of God,
they said.

"Maybe you don't have it figured out, you don't have a job yet, or you don't know
what's next for you. None of us do," Jay said. "There's a great hope in that. You
don't have to have it all figured out. God is taking us on a completely different
trajectory than we ever thought our lives could be, and yet it's so much better."